About

Tom Matsumoto Elementary School is a public school serving students in transitional kindergarten through 6th grade in the Evergreen School District of San Jose, California.

 

 

Principal's Message

Gokcen Ceran
Mrs. Gokcen Ceran

Welcome to Tom Matsumoto Elementary School!

At Tom Matsumoto Elementary, we believe every child deserves a school experience that fosters academic growth, personal confidence, and a sense of belonging. Our dedicated staff, engaged families, and curious students work together to create a learning environment where each child is encouraged to reach their full potential. 

We are Matsumoto Mustangs and we are a curious HERD!  Our Mustangs are humble, equitable, resilient, and dependable. These values guide how we learn, how we lead, and how we treat one another everyday. 

Matsumoto is proud to be recognized as both California Distinguished School and a National Blue Ribbon School. Our academic performance continues to reflect the high expectations we hold for all learners. Guided by California's Common Core State Standards, our instruction practices are rigorous, inclusive, and focused on developing critical thinking and real world problem solving skills. 

In addition to strong core academics on literacy and social studies, our school places a strong emphasis on STEAM (Science , Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math)  education. Students engage in hands-on, inquiry based learning through classroom projects, robotics, coding, engineering design and art. 

Learning at Matsumoto is further enriched through field trips, assemblies, and leadership opportunities. Programs like student council and classroom based initiatives help students to build character, voice and responsibility. 

We also know that student success is deeply connected to strong family partnerships. Whether, you are volunteering in a classroom, joining PTA, serving on school committees, or supporting your child's learning at home, your involvement strengthens our entire school community. 

As a principal, I am honored to serve this dynamic and diverse community of learners. Together, we will continue building a school culture where all students are seen, supported, and inspired to learn. 

Welcome to the Matsumoto Mustang Community! 

Mrs. Gokcen Ceran,
Principal, Tom Matsumoto Elementary.
 
 

School Vision Statement

Tom Matsumoto Elementary is a community that fosters empowered contributors to society through:

  • Critical thinking, problem solving, and perseverance
  • Communication and collaboration
  • Empathy, respect, and mindfulness

We aspire to create an environment where students develop personal accountability while growing academically, socially, and emotionally.

School Mission Statement

As a community of unique individuals, the mission of Tom Matsumoto Elementary School is to ensure that each child will experience optimal social, emotional, academic and physical success through a challenging and progressive, 21st Century educational program in a safe, inclusive, and healthy learning environment.

School Name

Tom Matsumoto Elementary School in San Jose is named after long time Evergreen School District Board member Tom Matsumoto (June 20, 1926 - July 10, 2012).

Tom farmed all his life with his brother first in in Ault, Colorado, then he grew crops on Homestead Road in Santa Clara and and Aborn Road in San Jose. He served on the Evergreen School District Board for 37 years. In his honor, our school was named for him in 1999.

 

Community & School Profile

Matsumoto School, located in the eastern foothills of San Jose, California, which is the heart of the ever -expanding technological Silicon Valley, serves an economically and ethnically diverse population. Currently 752 students of various backgrounds are enrolled at Matsumoto to include the following: .8% African American, 85% Asian, 4.2% Filipino, 3.9% Latino, 4.2% White, 1.9% Races- +2 or more, 19.3% ELL, 4.3% SED, & 4.8% SWD.

Built in 1998, we are a No Child Left Behind, Blue Ribbon School and California Distinguished School. Ours is a school where tolerance and mutual respect are modeled, practiced, and fostered. Our culturally rich and diverse community is our strength. As a collaborative learning community, we have a shared purpose. Our expectations for success for all students are high, and our students strive to meet or exceed Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in all areas. We invite and welcome divergent thinking and insist on practices that will most effectively address our children’s needs in alignment with our district’s LCAP. Matsumoto School embraces the philosophy of a growth mindset for all. To promote a growth mindset we cultivate the skills of 21st Century Learning ¬ Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, and Critical Thinking.

Together, Matsumoto staff, parents, and students are diligent in their pursuit of excellence in not only the academic areas but the social/emotional areas as well. We take pride in our safe campus and have taken a systematic approach to make certain it continues to remain safe.

We at Tom Matsumoto Elementary School are committed to providing a high-quality education for our current population of students in a safe, supportive, and technologically rich learning environment.

School Recognition

Gold Ribbon Schools Logo

2016, 2014,
2010, 2006, 2002

 

California Distinguished School Logo

2023, 2014, 2010,
2006, 2004, 2002

 

No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School Logo

 

 

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